Head Start
Head Start is a free All-Day Pre-K program that helps kids prepare for school…and life.
CAAS Head Start is a comprehensive developmental preschool program that helps get children ready for their future in school so they can be more productive and feel more satisfied day after day, year after year.
We offer a choice of 10-hour or 6-hour school days to approximately 275 low-income children and their families each year, and also provide a variety of wrap-around services, making for a great partnership with hard-working families like yours.
This dynamic Head Start course supports the learning and development of children ages 2.9 to 5 years old in classrooms throughout Somerville and Cambridge.
Why should you choose Head Start?
There are many reasons to choose Head Start but, in short, Head Start Really Works for Kids and Families…and it keeps getting better. The most recent Head Start Performance Standards, for example, mean big changes and even better outcomes for an already impactful program, including:
Longer, more in-depth program days, which studies show improve performance in students across the board, helping them be more ready to perform in elementary school and feel good about being there.
Stronger support for gains in cognitive skills amongst younger children through our longer Early Head Start programs.
Respect for parent work schedules with an accent on longer program days.
Enhanced coordination with state QRIS, state Pre-K, and elementary schools to strengthen student transitions and foster better continuity of learning and development for every child.
The highest standards required of Head Start directors, assuring they have a deep understanding of early childhood education as well as the proven knowledge and skills to lead a program.
Our Supportive Services tell kids and families “We’ve got you.”
CAAS Head Start programs help kids be better prepared for elementary school and beyond...but not just in the classroom. Our wraparound support services help children by also helping their families. Kids can focus better, learn more, and achieve academically when they feel a strong sense of emotional well-being from having reliable circumstances, healthy nutrition, and positive relationships in their lives. But real life can be unpredictable outside of school, so we also help our students’ families achieve and maintain a positive, balanced home life by offering:
Emergency/crisis assistance, such as meeting immediate needs for food, clothing, or shelter, as well as transportation services
Emotional, mental, and physical health services
Preventive medical and oral health education
Mental health screening and counseling
Instruction on nutrition and food preparation
Adult education and/or job training and certification
English as a Second Language (ESL) training
Education on relationships, marriage, and parenting skills
When a child gets a head start in life, they are more likely to help both themselves and their communities in the future. These fundamental supports simply help families contribute to that future from the beginning.
Learn More Today!
Ready to give your child a true Head Start in school? In life? Complete this form, below, and we will follow up to get you the answers you need. Or call our office to speak with our enrollment coordinator at 617-501-2750.
Enroll your child in Head Start now!
Our Head Start program accepts new applications on a rolling basis, so it’s best to apply now so we can collect your information and prepare your family for upcoming openings.
If English is not your first language, don’t worry. CAAS offers applications online in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole, and we can provide translation help for applications in other languages in person.
So, if you agree that your children – and most likely your entire family – would benefit from the advantages of enrolling in Head Start, we hope you will contact us today. You really should. We accept income-qualified families from both Somerville and Cambridge.
More about our Head Start staff, policies, and programs.
Read More about Head Start staff. | Contact Us if you have questions.
Access more information from the Head Start Family Handbook:
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Declaración de no discriminación
De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las regulaciones y políticas relativas a los derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo la identidad de género y la orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o tomar represalias o venganza por actividades previas relacionadas a los derechos civiles.